Coding and decoding machine



Nov.1s,1924. A 1,515,680

` A. HENKELs CODING AND DECODING MACHINE Original Filed July 19, 1921 4Sheets-Sheet 2 `In Ven for: V

AMM

Nav; 18,1924.'

A. HENKl-:Ls

CODING AND DECODING MACHINE t sh t s original Filed Julyle, 1921 4 snees "e Nov. 18, 1924 A. HENKELs comme AND DEcoDmG MACHINE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4Original Fi'led' July 19, 1921 Patented Nov. 18, 1924.v

unirsi) STATE-s .PATENT GFFICE.

ALBERT HENKELS, OF LANGERFELD, NEAR BARMEN, GERMANY.

c :onmannn DncoDINe MACHINE. i AOriginal appllication filed/July .19,1921, Serial No. 485,989. Divided and this application nled July 18,

To all' whom t may concermf Be it known that I, ALBERT' HENKELS, a.citizen of Germany, residing at Langerfeld,

. have filed applications in Germany October 30, 191.7, and September26, 1919), of which the following is a specification.

VThis invention has reference to improvements in coding and decodingmachines, and

it is particularly intended to provide a practically inlinite'number ofpossible combinations in secret `language with but one key Word, and toreproduce entire words and sentences in a very easy and easily readable'mannen the characters constituting the secret message being obtained incontinuous rows, after the key word has been set, and being decoded andreconverted into open language in the-same eas and simple manner. Amongother additional objects my invention which is a division of mycepending application for U'. S. patent Serial No. 485,989 filed July19, 1921, provides improved means o causing the engagement anddisengagement of the several members of the operating means and, of thecarriers for the characters constituting the message o r the key word,and of locking them in position, means being also provided to guardagainst ,the unauthorized decoding of the message.' I also provideimproved means of setting the several character bearing discs and it isalso an object of my invention to soconstruct and arrange the engagingand disengaging and operating means t be operated by crank movement orsimilar means and with their operating parts confined within theinterior of the machine casing. A further object of m invention is toprovide means to still furt er increase the security and number ofcombinations to be obtained by so arranging and constructingthefcharacter bearing and operating members that each of the characterbearing mem# bers which are arranged in coaxial series may be turnedthrough different angles and I also provide means to guard againstmistakes in the transcribin of the messageby preventing any uninten edactuation of the character discs and of the gear wheels `or otherinstrumentalities operably connected thereto. Further objects andadvantages several type discs, one

at they may l4, A5, 6 and 24 an' 4one .The

1922. Serial No. 575,884.

of my invention will appear from the draw# ings and as the specificationproceeds.

For the better understanding of my inf vention I have illustrated thesame on the accompanying' drawings as embodied in a coding and decodingor ciphering machine lhaving several series of coaxially arranged'carriers for the type characters, but without restricting the inventionto this particular form' and arrangement.

. In the drawings an arrangement preferably adapted for practical use isshown in Figures land 2 in longitudinal section,

Fig.` l showing the gear wheels inmesh with each other, whereas- Fig. v2represents the same gear wheels disengaged. Fig. 3 is a plan view, V

Fig. 4 is a transverse section on the line 4-4: of Figure 2.

Fig. 5 is a similan'section on the line 5-5 of 'Figure' 1. Figs. 6 and 7disclose the cutting-in and -out devices' respectively, of the gearmechanism in two different positions, whereas-.--

- Figs. 8 to 11 show the gear mechanism 'of' sideelevation and top view,in two dilerent angular positions of the wheels, respectively. Figs. 12and 13 are alongitudinal section through part of the machine, as also aplan view from above, respectively, .with the operating mechanism disengbehind the other, lin l Fi'g.^14 represents the progressive connecion(or. adjustment, of the type carriers or lscs.

. In the drawing, A1 indicates the casing of themachine, in which theshaft 2 and live spindles 3, 4, 5,4` 6 and 24:l are arra in parallelrelationship, one'behind the other. The shaft 2 serves as thedrivingshaft; at its one end protruding from the" casing through the slot 60,it carriesthe handcrank 7 ,L whereas on each of the spindles 3,

equal number of type carriers or discs 8 have been arra ed in such amapner as to turn loosely on t e spindles, but immovable laterally. Eachdisc is rigidly connected to two'gear wheels 25, 26 one of whichv (25)is provided with a full toothed spur-rim whereas the other one, 26, hasan interrupted toothed spur rim, i. e. provided with irregular groups ofteeth.

full and the interrupted gear wheels ixed'to the discs 8 placed onebehind the other, are alternately arranged relatively toeach other' ontheir respective'axles or splndles, so that for instance, on .spindle` 3the full spur gears'25 are' placed to the right, and the interrupted.gear wheels 26 to the left of the discs 8. On the spindle 4, however,the interrupted gear wheels are placed to the right and the full gearWheels to the left of the discs 8, and so on. i In this way, one fullgear wheel will always be oppositel an interrupted one.- Thegear wheelsare not in direct mesh with each other but are coupled by means ofpinions or ratchet wheels 32 mounted rotatably on the intermediatespindles 27, 28, 29, 30,31 but in such terrupted gear wheels on spindle4, however, to the full gear -wheels on spindle 5,.

and so on. Gear wheels 33 mounted on the driving shaft 2 mesh with thefull gear wheels on the spindle 3. When the crank shaft 2 is turned, thegear wheels 33 drivev the full gear wheels 25 of the discs 8 on thespindle 3 which, in turn, by means of their interrupted gear wheels 26,drive the full gear wheels of the discs 8 on the spindle/l, and so on.In this manner, not only each of the discs 8 placed on a common spindleside by side is turned through a different angle,

but also all discs arranged one behind the other, will be subject to adifferent angular motion. As only the discs on the slpindles 4, 5,'6 and24 serve for transcribing e message, while thel discs on spindle 3are'used in f setting the pass-word, i. e. to change the initial'position of the interrupted gear wheels of these discs, the latterdiscs may also be turned in common through the same angular distance.Therefore, there is no absolute necessity of providing the gear wheel 33with interruptions in order to produce the initial setting of the trainof gearing, but the wheel 33 may be fitted with full spur rims asrepresented in Figs. 1 and 2, but it is obvious that my invention willalso include those instrumentalities in which a mutilated or interruptedgear as a driving means is mounted on the axle 2.

During the turning of the discs with the object of transcribing thesequence of letters or signs set on the machine, into secret cypher orvice versa, 'the pinions 32 are to serve at the same time for vlockingthe driven full gear wheels 25 and therewith also the discs 8 in theirrespective positions,

Y whenever the pinions 32 by virtue of the interruptions in the toothedrims of the driving gear wheels 26 are out of mesh with the 1,515,eso

latter, i. e. when the drivin gear" wheels.are-v runnlng `idle. To thise ect A'one lhalf of the face of the .pinions 32 is provided/.g with afull number of teeth, Whereas 0n the other half of the face, each secondtoothhas been removed.. (Figs. 8-l1) This means that these pinions areprovided, so to say, with.'

tworows of 'teeth corresponding with one another as regards'the positionof the teeth,

one of whichpossesses only half vas many teeth -as the other. At theplaces where the toothed .rims of the driving gear wheels 26l areinterrupted, segments 34 have been provided, connecting the .groups ofteeth, and vforming a continuation of the addendum circle. Thesevsegments extend over the part of the face of the tooth opposite thatialf of the pinion v32 which possesses only half the number of teeth; Aslong. as one groupof teeth of the driving wheels is in voperation(Figs.'8 and 9) both toothed rims .its respective discs, while thedriving wheel is running idle, whereby mistakes in the transcriptlon ofa sequence of letters or signs due to an unintentional movement of oneof the discs, are effectively. vguarded against. Moreover,l the lockingofthe pinions assures at all timesl the correct -re-engagement of thegear teeth of the interrupted wheels, both during the forward movementof the latter as also during the reverse rotation.

The disengagement of the members of the train of gear wheel mechanismmay be effected by any suitable means, preferably by changing theposition of these members relatively to each other. AS one form ofembodiment of this part of my invention I have here shown thisdisengagement and engagement to be effected transversely with relationto the spindles 3, 4, 5, 6, 24-in a novel manner allowing the variousseries of gears and type to be moved consecutively. and independently ofeach other. -To this effect the spindles 3, 4, 5, 6, 24 are eachsupported, not in the walls-'of the. casing, but in carriages comprisingpairs of laterlally disposed cheeks 36 which are guided in While iw veach one of the spindles 3, 4, 5, 6, l24 is attached to one pair ofcheeks, together with the. spindles 27, 28, 29, 30 and 31 loca-tedbehind the former. Except for the cheeks carrying the spindles 5 and 29which are held in a. fixed position on the walls of the casing each pairof cheeks is connected rigidly together by means of the spindles, asalso by a number of transverse tie-rods 54, 55, 58, 58, thus forming asliding frame or carriage which may be moved in longitudinal directionof the casing in such a way 'as to allo-w the sets of gears to bebrought out of engagement by shifting the pairs of cheeks in oppositedirections. This shifting ofthe pairs of cheeks is effected by the aidof two slide rods 37, guided in grooves or slotsin one of thelongitudinal walls ofthe casing (Figs. 4,5, 6 and 7). The innermost endsof these slide rods carry rollers 38 which engage in radial slots of acrank or eccentric disc 40 supported a-long the wall of the casing. Thisdisc A40-may be turned 1 by means 'of a hand crank 4l. connectedthereto. The slide rods are provided with holes 42 and with longitudinalslots 43 which engage with studs44 (Fig. 12) pro` vided on the slidingcheeks. The studs of the cheeks carryingv the spidles4 and 6 engage theslots43; the studs of the cheeks carrying lthe spindles 3 and 24,however, engage the holes 42. It the disc 40 is turned incouuter-cloclnvisev direction (F ig. 7), the two pairs ofcheekscontaiuing the spindles 3-27 and 24-31 are carried along first,

and after the latter have moved through a certain dist-ance, the pairsof cheeks Jcon ltaining the spindles 4-28 and 6-30 arc carried along, i.e. the pairs of spindles 1oeated in front and behind the fixed spindles5-29 are moved away-from this latter pair of spindles as also from eachother in opposite directions. In this manner all pinions 32 have beenbrought out of engagement with the full gear wheels `25 placed behind,

thus uncoupling the discs 8 located one behind the other. (Fig. 6.) Thecoupling-up of the system of gears is 4effected byrotation ofthe disc 40in the opposite direction, whereby the spindles are moved in theopposite manner to what had been done before, until all gear wheels areagain in mesh. The driving shaft 2 may likewise be supported i'n acarria e or a pair of cheeks which may slide in I vinside the casing 1.However, it may also be supported in the pair of cheeks carrying thespindles 3 and 27, as represented on the drawing, the unclutchingofIi'ts gear wheels `from the gears 25 of the spindles 3 beingin thiscase effected by a movement of the driv-` lng shaft 2 in axialdirection.

For preventing an unintentional turning ofthe type discs 'whilst thegear wheels are unelutched, the discs 8 arelocked by means ongitudinaldirect-ion of springs 45, pressing against them from below. (Figs. 2, 4,5 and 12.)` The springs 45 are preferably fastened to shafts46V restingin the respective pair of cheeks 36 and carrying each one control lever47, one end of which isaeted upon by a push-rod 48, C

the other end being attached to the casing 1. The arrangement of thepush rods 48 in this case isI such that during the movement of the pairsof cheeks with theobject of uncoupling -the system of gears, the springs45 are pressed agail'ist thetypediscs Sby turning the shafts 46 (Figs.4and 5). During the opposite movement of the cheeks with the object ofre-engaging the system of gears, however, these springs are moved awayfrom the discs 8, i. e. put out of action/ L i The windows 22 areprovided in the rails 49 connecting the pairs of cheeks 3G on top',

these rails taking partin the movement of the spindles. Owing tothearrangement of I the-intermediate gear wheels 32 1t is possible tomakethe type-discs Sas large as; l

or even l: rge'r than thegear wheels 25, 264 in order that the typesmaybe placed closev below the windows, 'so that' the type or letterwhich happens to be on top directly below the window. For closing thespaces remaining between the` rails 49 covering strips 5() extendingover the edges 'ofthe rails 49, havebeen provided which are fastened tothe walls of the Acasing 1 in such a way as not to. impede the movementof the rails 49 during the connection and disengagement of the system ofgears.

For rotating anyindividual type disc 8 of these keys may be guided invertical holes provided in flat ears or bars 51, connecting Vthe cheeks36, 36 of each pair of cheeks,

whereas they are guided on top, on the spindles 27, 28, 29, 30, 31` bymeans of 1ongitudinal slots 52. In order to` permit of turning the typediscs 8.bae kward as well as forward, the keys 17 may 'beprevided withtwo pawls 19 and 19E*` arranged in opposite directions-relatively to oneanother, one of which (19) engages the full gear wheels 25 from the top,the other one from below. The. keys 17 may be pressed down or raised bymeans of thebuttons 18. As a rule they are kept midway between the topand bottom positionby'means of a twolegged spring 53 attached to a rod54 consprings 57, 5 7a are to belocked in the intermediate position ofthe key 17 by means of transverse rods 58, 58a so that in thisAvposition they cannot engage the teeth of the gears 25. If,however, thekey is raised, pawl 19 will be kept 4out of engagement with theteeth 'ofgear 25 by the rod 58,v

W-hile pawl 19T-Will slide over thev rod 58v into engagement with theteeth of gear 25, which .will be moved clockwise by an amount limited bytheslot 52 engaging the rod 27, the slot Ibeing of such a'length as tovallow the pawl to move the Wheel by one space of'the row of type aroundthe circumference of the`Wheel. If, now, the keyl'? be depressed, thepawl 19 will slide under the rod 58 into engagement with gear Wheelmanner already described, the discs 8 on the.

spindle 3 arev first adjusted for the password selected, whereupon onthe spindles 4,5, 6,l 24 the plain-language message tobe transcribed, isset. After the system of gears has been brought back into mutualengagement, the crank 7 is given a pr'e-ar- Y ranged number of turns,thuseffecting the conversion of the plain language message' into secretcode. The deciphering or decoding by the receiver of the message iseffected by means of asimilar machine, the operatorA ,first disengagingthe system of `gear wheels in the same manner as the sender of themessage, then setting his wheel 3 to the pref.

arranged key-.Word 'and turning the other type discs y8 so as to obtainvthe code'mess'age received by him. He then operates the crank 7 aprearranged number of times in the reverse direction-whereupon themessage in open language will appear on the disc corresponding to thespindles 4, 5, 6,l 24. As

the crank shaft-,2 carries full gear wheels,- a

distinct initial position of the crank shaft 1s not required; lonly thenumber of turns of the crank and the pass-Word need previouslybearranged for. The greatest possible ydegree of security againstunauthorized'deciphering of the message is obtained in this machine,inasmuch as by the adjustment of another pass-word on theY discs 8 ofthe spindle 3 the initial position of the driving gear Wheels'26 on thisspindle mayl be changed in any desired manner, whereby, in vcombinationwith the selectie;` ofv a different number of turns of the crank, aninfinite number of variations is rendered possible. The arrangement'ofthe types or let ter signs may be the'same on all the dlscs, inasmuch asthe discs located one behind the other on the same shaft may also beturned each through a different angle.

It is obvious that this' invention is not confined to the arrangementsillustrated by Way' of example. There are many other vcombinationspossiblev in which this invention may be4 carried into eii'ect Withoutde-v parting from the spirit of my invention. More especially, themachine may be provided-With a printing device in order to permit ofprinting the message directly in plain language, may be desired.

wish it to be understood that I .am not restricted to the particulararrangement of the spindles 2 and 3 with their respective gears asstarting members but mayv arrange these and equivalent motion impartingmeans in other sections andportions of the machine and connect them withany ot' the type-carriers and motion imparting members and I may provideother modifications and change in accordance with the exigencies as alsoin `cipher-code, as

of the particular manner ot' utilization ot the invention and to suitthe `convenience of the user.

I claim: .1.In a coding and decoding machine in combination, a pluralityoft' supporting axles,

.series of coaxially spaced' type carriers,

loosely and rotatably mounted on said axles,

vdriving means on both sideseof said type carriers and adapted foroperably connecting the adjacent series of carriers, means on thedriving means of one side of alternating series of type carriers forintermittently interrupting the rotation of some of the carriers, andmeans of displacing the individual,series relatively to each other.

2. In a coding and decoding machine in combination, a plurality ofsupporting axles, substantially para-llelly spaced from each other,series of coaxially spaced type carrying discs, loosely and rotatablymounted on said axles, driving means on both sides of said discs, andconnected thereto, intermediate driving means between the adjacentseries of discs, and in operative engagement with the irstmentioneddriving means, and motion interrupting portions on the driving means ofone side of alternating series ot' type discs, and on the intermediatedriving members, and means of displacing the indi-` vidual series ofdiscs relatively to each other.

3. In a coding and decoding machine in combination, a plurality ofsupporting axles, series of coaxially spaced type carriers, loosely androtatably mounted on said axles, driving means on both sides of saidcarriers, and connected thereto, and adapted for operably connecting theadjacent series of type carriers, means on the driving means of one titlside ot alternating series of type carriers for intermittentlyiliterrupting the rotation ot' some ol said carriers, sliding frames'forindividually mounting' ysaid series of carriers, and ram motionactua-ted hars operably connected to said frames.

4. In acoding and decoding machine in combination, a plurality ofsupporting axles, series of r coaxially spaced typel carrying discs,loosely and rotatably mounted on said axles, driving means on both sidesof said discs, and operably connected thereto, and adapted for operablyconnecting the adjacent series of type discs, means on the driving meansof one side ot alternating series of type discs for intermittentlyinterru pting the` rotation of some'ot the discs, oppositelydisplace-able push rod-s, sliding carriages for individually mountingsaid series ot' discs, and connected to said puth rods, and springactua'ted'setting means operably engageable with the individual typecarrying discs. 4

5. In a codingand decoding machine in combination, a plurality ofsupporting axles, series of co-axially spaced type carriers loosely androtatably mounted on said axles,- driving; means on both sides of saidcarriers, and operably connected thereto and adapted for operablyconnecting the adjacent series ,of carriers. means on the driving meansof one sideof alternating series of `type carriers for intermittentlyinterrupting the rotation of some of the carriers, oppositelydisplaceable push rods, and means of mount-4 ing the series of carrierson said push rods, setting means adapted for operative cnugagement withsaid carriers', and spring-` actuated displaceahle lockingandcontrolling levers engageable with said carrier driving means. A

G. In a coding and decoding' machine in combination, a plurality hfsupporting axles, substantially parallelly spaced, series ol coaxially'spaced type* carriers rotatably mounted on said axles, drivingr meanson both sides of `said carriers, and connected thereto, intermediatedriving,` means between the adjacentseries of carriers and in operativeengagement with the {irst n'ientioned driving means, and motioninterrupting portions on the driving means offene side of alternatingseries of type carriers, and on the intermediate driving means,oppositely displaceable push rods, substantially lcam actuatingoperatingmeans 'for' said push.

rods, sliding frames for individually mounting said series of' carriers,and connected to lsaid ush rods. sirin1V actuated settin(r 1 f3 meansoperably engageable with the indi"- rldual type carriers. and springactuated locking and controlling levers, operatively `connected to said'frames and engageable with said type carriers and adapted to lockV saidtype carriers in their relative positions.'

rim ot teeth on its circumference, normal wheels on one spindle facinginterrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle, a pinion intermediateadjacent pairs of gear Wheels, a. double rim of teeth on said pinion,one being normal, the other one lacking every second tooth, plainsegments of haltl breadth filling the gaps of the interrupted gear wheelrims and means for throwing the gear Wheels on saidv spindles in andvout of gear, respectively, with one another'and with said drivingl shaftwheels.'

8. ln a device of the kind described in combination, a drivingI shaft, aplurality of type carrier spindles, type carriers loosely disposed onsaid spindles in line with one another, twogear wheels, one on eachside. fixed to each type carrier, one of the gear wheels of each pairhaving an interrupted rim of teeth on its circumference, normal wheelson one spindle facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle', apinion intermediate adjacent pairs of gear wheels, a double rim of teethon said pinion, one lieing normal, the other one lacking every secondtooth, plain segments of halt' breadth filling the gaps of theinterrupted gear wheel rims and slides displaceable transversely to andforming bearings `for said spindles.

9. In a device of the kind described in combination, a driving shaft,a'plurality of type carrier spindles, type carriers loosely disposed onsaid spindles in line with one another, two gear wheels, one on each'side, fixed to each type carrier, one of the gear wheels of each pairhaving an interrupted rim of teeth on its circumference, normal wheels-on one, spindle facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle, apinion intermediate adjacent pairs of gearwheels. a double rim of teethon Isaid pinion, one heim: normal, the other one lacking every secondtooth, plain segments of half breadth filling the gaps of theinterrupted gear wheel rims, slides displaceable transversely to andforming hearings for said spindles and a crank discoperativelyconnectedwith said slides.

10. In a device of the kind described in combination, a driving shaft,av plurality of type carrier spindles, type carriers loosely disposed onsaid spindles in linewitli one another, tvvo'gear- Wheels, one on cachside, fixed to each type carrier, one of the gear wheels of each pairhaving' an interruptet rim ofv teeth on its circumference, normal.wheels onone spindle facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle,a pinion intermediateadjacent pairs of gear wheels, a

lOt

1,515,6eo y,

disc and connecting rods connecting said crank disc with said slides.

' ll. ln a device of the kind described in combination, a driving shaft,a plurality of type carrier spindles, type carriers loosely disposed onsaid spindles in line with one another, two gear Wheels, one on eachside.

lixed to each type carrier, one of the gear wheels of each pair havingan interrupted rirn of teeth on its circumference, normal wheels on onespindle^facing interrupted wheels on the adjacent spindle, a pinionintermediate adjacent pairs of gear wheels.` a doubleJ riin of 4teeth onsaid pinion, one being normal, the other one lacking every second tooth,plain segments of half breadth `filling the gaps of the interrupted gearwheel rims, slides displaceable transversely to and forming bearingsforsaid spindles and windows associatedd with said slides so as toparticipate in their displacement and adapted to register with said typecarriers.

l2. In a device of the kind described in combination, adriving shaft, aplurality o lf type carrier spindles, type carriers looselydisposed onsaid spindles in line with one another, gear wheels ixed to said .typecarriers and gear wheels fixed to said driving shaft, some of said gearwheels having an interrupted rim of teeth. on their circumferences,means for throwing the gear wheels on said spindles in and out of gear,respectively, with one another and with-said driving shaft Wheels, a baradjacent to and adapted to be displaced transversely to the spindle ofeach type carrier and two pawls on each bar adaptedA` to ,turn said typeearrier in different directions.

13. ln a device of the kind described in combination, a driving shaft, aplurality ol type carrier spindles, type' carriers loosely disposed onsaid spindles in line with one another, gear wheels fixed to said typecan riers and gear Wheels fixed to said driving shaft, some of said gearwheels having an interrupted rim of teeth on their cireun1- fer-ences,means for throwing the gear Wheels on said spindles in and out of gear,respectively, with one another and with said driving shaft wheels, a'brake spring for each type carrier, a leverA connected with each springand a shaft connecting the levers of each row of type carriersfsaidshaft being operatively connected with said throwing out means.

In testimony whereof alix myl signature.

ALBERT HENKELS.

